William king



UNITD STATES PATENT @Erica PENIVIANS ASSISTANT.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 51,530, dated December 12, 1865.

To all whom it nay concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM KING, of Hopewell, in the county of Albert, New Brunswick, have invented a new and Improved Penmans Assistant; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, which will ena-ble others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a perspective view ot this invention, showing its application to the arm of a person While writing. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same detached.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to a device for supporting and steadyin g the arm and body ot' a person while writing, said device being so arranged that it forms bearing-points principally for the bony and neutral parts of the hand and arm, leaving the muscles, blood-vessels, and nerves connected with the movements ot' the pen free from pressure or congestion.

My penmans assistant, which is represented in theannexed drawings, is composed of a curved piece of sheet metal or arm-plate, A, intended to be secured to the arm of the writer by an elastic cord, a, or any other suitable means. This arm-plate is connected by a pivot or any other suitable means to a bar, B, so that the same can be readily adjusted in any desirable angle toward said bar, according to the position of the arm. From the end of this bar next to the arm-plate A rises a curved bracket, C, which, when the apparatus is adjusted on the arm, bears against the elbow and prevents the arm-plate slipping up on the arm during the operation.

Both the arm-plate and the bracket C may be cushioned to prevent the apparatus from creating a disagreeable feeling on the arm. The barB extends under the forearm, to which it is secured by an elastic cord, b.

From the outer end of the bar B extends an arm, D, which is connected at one end to said bar by means of a pivot, d, and to the other end of which a pad, E, is connected by a pivot, e. By this arrangement both the arm I) and the pad E are made adjustable independent of each other and of the other parts of the apparatus, and when the arm-plate A and bar B are secured to the arm of the writer in the desired position the pad can be readily brought in such a position that it forms a rest for the wrist or for the heel of the hand and that part next to the roots of the fingers.

The action of the apparatus is rendered easy by a spring, j', placed under the bar B at about the middle of its length, and another spring, g, may be applied'to one end of the pad E.

By this arrangement the writer is enabled to feelin an easy position without the aid of muscular tension, the inclination to gripe the pen or press the arm heavily on the table for support is prevented, and his or her attention is directed solely to the execution ofthe strokes. The muscles and nerves can be trained to a more elegant and precise formation of the letters than can be attained while they are obstructed by divided attention or pressure, and at the same time the body is allowed to occupy an erect position, or the position can be changed in various ways essential to health without interfering with or cramping the movements of the pen.

In applying my penmans assistant to the arm care must be taken to adjust the slides on the elastic cords, so as to make the same just tight enough to prevent the apparatus from dropping or swinging out of place when the arm is lifted, but not tight enough to make the same press the arm. The bights of the elastic cords, after the same have been adjusted to the proper length, are passed over the arm and fastened in suitable hooks or buttons, keeping the arm in such a position that the spring fforms a pivot on which the forearm can play freely back and forth.

The wrist-pad may be adjusted to suit the convenience of the writer by swinging it about on its pivots, either under the arm, just behind the wrist, or under the hand.

The use of my penmans assistant may be facilitated by a suitable writing-desk, and it can also be employed with advantage for drafting and other similar purposes.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. An apparatus for supporting the arm while Writing, composed of au arm-plate, A, 4. The combination if the spring g with the bar B, and wrist-pad E, substantially in the Wrist-pad E, substantially as and for the purmanner herein shown and described. pose described.

2. The arrau gement of the bracket C in combinaition with an arm-plate, A, and bar B, as set; forth.

3. The spring farranged under the bar B, substantially in the manner mid for the purpose speeied.

"WILLIAM KING.

Witnesses:

M. M. LIVrNGsToN, C. L. E. TOPLrFF. 

